Given the controversy surrounding the Mexican Truck Issue and the recent strike by GM workers I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about the Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality Model as I was introduced to it by Stephen Covey; the author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“. I think it’s best to let him explain in his own words:

“Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.
“The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production. They also have a a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people.
“The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.”

Now, I’m quite sure it’ll take me quite awhile, if ever, to completely reconcile this concept with the trucking industry but I do have a few thoughts on the subject; open to criticism.

A Rising Tide Raises All Boats

Its the reason I found myself a supporter of NAFTA in the first place. I thought then, and think now, that anything done to help Canada and Mexico grow their economies cannot help but increase our own economy. It won’t happen overnight and there will be short-term growing pains that might cause some immediate problems. Yes, there are security issues to be dealt with. Yes, there are safety issues to be dealt with. Yes, its likely that the Mexican truckers will, in the beginning, see more benefits than American truckers. In the long-run, though, I don’t see a downside to opening our borders to commerce.

Obviously, there are cultural issues that cause a resource rich nation like Mexico to suffer from a poor economy but limiting commerce between our two countries won’t solve those problems. And I understand that opening the borders isn’t an instant cultural cure, either, but its a start.

Buy American

One issue that caused workers to walk off the job yesterday revolved around where new plants would be built. The union insisted that GM agree to a contract that guaranteed that all new facilities would be built on American soil and GM balked. I would too.

If you can buy something cheaper at store A than you can at store B then you’ll only shop at store B if they offer other benefits that offset the higher cost. Its also unlikely that you’d agree to circumstances that forbade you from shopping at any store other than B. But that’s exactly what the Auto Workers are asking of GM. I don’t blame them for trying to maintain the status quo; but GM must compete globally to grow and stay profitable (no profits = no jobs at all). That means they need the option to build cars on an even footing with manufacturers that aren’t being held hostage by their employees.

It seems to me that the union and the rank-and-file are stuck in a Scarcity Mentality. I can think of a lot of scenarios in which the combination of open borders and an auto industry free to compete globally can exponentially increase economic opportunity and growth.

Hell No! We Won’t Go!

So I read that, in one poll, more than 90% of the respondents indicated they wouldn’t drive a truck into Mexico. Hmmm…That reminds me of a story. Back in the ’80s, when I was dispatching trucks instead of driving them, I had a pair of brothers, both owner-operators, that refused to go anyplace but California. As a matter of fact, they would only go to Los Angeles. They’d go further north to pick up a back-haul - but L.A. had to be the outbound leg. We had a fair amount of freight to L.A. but, of course, the limitation they placed on their routing also served to limit their overall income.

Finally, after many attempts to get them out of their rut they both told me that they were familiar with the route and they were afraid of going someplace new. I couldn’t believe it. When I pointed out the fact that they had never gone anywhere, including L.A., until they went there the first time they both reluctantly agreed to try a few new routes. Once they discovered that trolls didn’t live under all the bridges between here and everywhere they became the two most successful truckers we had under contract.

Why on earth would anyone complaining about a lack of freight look askance at a new market? It’s beyond me. We’ve never done anything ’till we’ve done it the first time.

In Conclusion

Well, not really. I’ve got lots more thinking to do about the Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality Model and its relationship to the trucking industry. I’m not entirely sure all the conclusions I’ve drawn to this point are complete and I’m sure I’ll think of more correlations, as well. I’d really appreciate your thoughts on the subject, in agreement and otherwise, but I’d prefer a conversational rather than confrontational tone.